And george wexler



(No Model.)

RE. CLARK & G. WEXLERQ PUZZLE.

m: mums PETERS 20., PMOYO-LIYHO., msnmc'ron, m c.

' UNITED STATES- PATENT FFICE.

FRANCIS E. CLARK, OE NEYV YORK, AND GEORGE \VEXLER, OF BROOKLYN,

NENV YORK.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,239, dated January6, 1891.

Application filed January 29, 1890- Serial No. 338,511. tNo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANCIS E. CLARK, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, and GEORGE \VEXLER, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State ofNew-York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Puzzles; and wedo hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

Our invention has for its object to provide a neat simple puzzle whichwill call into play the perceptive and inventive faculties and theexercise of mechanical ingenuity for its solution.

It consists in a ball constructed, substantially as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, of two semi-spherical shells fitted to rotateindependently one upon the other, and to be automatically lockedtogether without interference with their rotation by means of springsprojecting from within the one shell into engagement with an endlessannular offset within the other, in such position as to admit of beingcarried by said rotation into register with a single aperture in theshell, whereby a loose independent pin or key may be introduced throughthe aperture to reach the spring and effect its disengagement to unlockthe shells. Hence in the solution of the puzzle it becomes necessary,first, to select the particular aperture which will register with thesprings; second, to provide a loose pin or key adapted to enter theaperture; third, to rotate the one shell upon the other until the properspring is brought into registry with said aperture, and, finally, toinsert the pin to actuate the spring.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an exterior view of ourimproved puzzle-ball in elevation; Fig. 2, a diametric section of samewhen closed, taken at rightangles to its division-line, showing -theopening-key inserted, its operation being illustrated by dotted lines.'Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the same with the automaticspringcatches released and the ball partly opened. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 aresimilar sectional views of the puzzle, illustrating variousmodifications in the form and z-trrangemeut of the automatic springdevices by which the two divisions of the sphere are confined whenunited.

The ball is preferably constructed in aperfectly spherical shape of twosemi-spherical sections on divisions A B, of thin sheet metal,papier-mach, hard rubber or other suitable material, the rim of the onesection being formed with a slight annular offset 0, and acircumferential flange (1 about its rim adapted to fit closely withinthe counterpart rim of the opposite section, so that the one shall havea firm seat or hearing within the other when the two are united and yetleave exteriorly but a single close scam in view. \Vithin one of thesections A, thus made to fit neatly and closely together, an annularoffset E is formed to extend continuously around its entire innerperiphery near to its rim. This offset E may be formed by doubling inthe rim of the section and folding itin upon itself, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, and in such case the infolded rim may also be made to form theoffset 0 and flange d required to receive the rim of the oppositesection and form the required joint between the sections; or, the offsetmay consist of a separate piece E' of metal soldered or otherwisesecured within the rim of one of the sections, as shown in Fig. 4.

V'v'ithin the opposite section or division B of the ball are secured twosprings F E, which may be made of either round or fiat spring metal, toextend in opposite directions in the same diametric plane, preferably atright angles with the joint between the two sections, and whose freeends are bent and adapted to spring apart and thereby engage thecircumferential offset E at any point thereof. Thus Whenever the twosectionsA and B are fitted and closed together the two springs F F willengage the olfset E at diametrically-opposite points, and thereby firmlylock and hold the sections together so that they will remain inseparableuntil one or other of the springs is disengaged from its hold upon theoffset, and since the offset is continuous the springs will thus engageit and will retain their hold irrespective of an independent revolutionof the two divisions when united. To permit of a disengagement of eitherspring so as to separate the two sections and open the ball, one or moreminute apertures G are pierced in the shell or wall oi": that section Ainto which the free ends of the springs projectwhen the ball isclosed,in position to permitof the insertion against the free end ofeither spring, when it is brought; into registry with the hole, of aloose independent steel rod or pin \V to serve as a key, by meanswhereof the end of the spring F may be forced inward far enough to freeit from the offset E, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and therebypermit the ball to be opened by drawing the sections apart, as shown inFig. 3, when the lower edges will slip one within the other and free thespring at that point.

A number of minute apertures G may be pierced in the shell, so as torender it dilficult to determine whichof them willproperly register withthe spring to permit the key-pin \V to reach it, and thereby rendertheproblein how to open the ball\'ery ditiicult of solution to theuninitiated.

Instead of employing a spring-plate l directly as a catch to engage theoffset, two hooked levers, as ll ll, may be employed, the one lever Hbeing pivoted at its inner end and actuated by a spring 1'1 and theother rigidly secured, as shown'in Fig. l; or the springs, as F F", maybe made to clasp between them a pin or block 1, formed with a collar oran offset 1', and which is made to project for thepurpose from theopposite section of the ball, as shown in Fig. 5; or, again, a pin orpost J may be fitted to pro ject interiorly from the one section 13 ofthe ball into a socket K,fitted to receive it in the opposite section,and to be caught and secured by means of a sprii'ig L, carried by thepost J and adapted to engage a recess encircling the socket-piece, asshown in Fig. (5. In each and all of these modifications the springcatch is released by the insertion of an independent push-pin \V throughan aperture in the shell of the ball, as shown in Figs. 2, 1 ,5, and 6.

The two sections of the ball are made entirely loose and independent ofeach other to admit of a free revolution of the one about the axis ofthe other upon the bearing formed by the flanged joint between them, andthe spring-catches are so adjusted as to permit of this independentrevolution of the two sections without thereby freeing them after theyare locked together, so that the registry of the appropriate key-holewith one of the springeatches, to permit of the disengagement of thecatch by means of a rod or pin inserted through the key-hole, may beproduced or prevented by turning the sect-ions one upon the other.

\Ve claim as our invention-- l. The puzzle, substantially as described,consisting of the two independent rotatable shells, one of which isperforated, in combination with a spring-catch projecting from withinthe one shell to engage and lock automatically with an uninterruptedannular seat or offset within the opposite shell in manner to admit ofbeing carried, when thus locked, into registry with the perforation insaid opposite shell, substantially as and for the purpose herein setforth.

The divided hollow spherical shell having its wall pierced with one ormore perforations and its divisions rotatable one upon the other whenlocked, in combination with the s 'n-ing-catclies fixed within the onedivision in position to engage and lock automatically with theinteriorof the opposite division and to admit, when locked, of beingbrought by the rotation of either division into registry with one ofsaid perforations for disengagement by theinsertion of a loose keythrough the perforation, substantially in the manner and for the purposeherein set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS E. CLARK. GEORGE WEXLER. Witnesses:

A. N. J ESBERA, E. M. WATSON.

